Introduction
Last Thursday I went to Soutwark cathedral to see our former archdeacon Christopher Chessun being made a bishop. As part of the ceremony the new bishop is presented with his pastoral staff or shepherd’s crook. Obviously this is symbolic of his calling to follow in the footsteps of Jesus the Good Shepherd. It left me wondering slightly what an appropriate symbol would be in today’s world. In a place that is far removed from the pastoral scene how meaningful is such a symbol? Even in rural England I’m not sure how many shepherds still use a crook – as far as I know they ride quad bikes and use cattle prods – now there’s a thought! What symbol would you use to represent the pastoral role of a bishop?
I selected John10 for our service today as it was one of the set readings for commemorating bishops. I wonder how “pastoral” St.Mellitus was as a bishop? From what we know of him he was uncompromising in his faith and fervent in his prayers but we can really only guess or speculate as to what he was like as a pastor. I suspect we have a fairly limited concept of what it means to be a pastor. When we talk of pastoral care and pastoral situations we think of the clergy acting as something like a social worker or counsellor – coming alongside people when they are in trouble. As I hope to show from this passage pastoral care involves more than that. A good shepherd does not just help sick sheep.
Knows his sheep
A good shepherd knows his sheep – by name and his sheep know him. V.14. It is impossible to pastor impersonally. If you want to be a pastor you must invest time and energy getting to know your sheep – all their foibles, what makes them tick. They also need to have the time and closeness to know you.
Calls his sheep
The image here is fairly clear – the shepherd calling his sheep to himself eg on the hillsides, bringing them back to the fold for the night. How does it work with pastoring people? There are a lot of competing voices out there – self-help manuals, alternative therapies, other religions, scientific cynicism – a good pastor gives a clear call to his sheep – pointing them to the one true God and healer of all
Leads his sheep
Having called the sheep by name the shepherd leads them out v.3. Where does he lead them? Psalm 23:2 tells us that it is to green pastures and still waters. The good shepherd takes good care that his sheep are well fed and watered. How does this work with pastoral care – ensuring that people are fed by word worship and sacrament.
Protects his sheep
There is a lot of emphasis on the gate in this passage. This was the means of entry and exit to the sheepfold and the middle-eastern shepherd would have used his crook to guard the gate. Vv.1-3 and 7-9. There is a lot of talk about thieves and robbers, people who seek to destroy and devour. Again, people need protecting from unhelpful and destructive influences in their lives.
The contrast is made between the hired hand and the good shepherd vv.12-13. With the shepherd there is a sense of ownership which leads to him being able to lay down his all for his sheep. In good pastoral care there is this sense of ownership / belonging. For example being assigned to a G.P. many patients feel differently about seeing someone who is not “their” doctor and vice versa
We are taught as doctors not to get emotionally involved with our patients – by this I don’t mean the obvious dangers of romantic attachments! Similarly clergy are often discouraged from making friends from within their congregation. I personally think this is a load of tosh! Whilst we need to maintain professional and clinical detachment the shepherd who does not love his sheep is not a good shepherd! Only a shepherd who truly loves his sheep will lay down his life for them.
(possible aside re one flock). As we saw last week the call to pastoral ministry was not restricted to the specialist few – it is for all of us who would follow Jesus. It is not confined to the Saints of old like Peter and Mellitus, nor to the saints of today like Benedict the new pope and Christopher the new bishop. All of us are called to pastor how well are we doing it? Do we know our sheep, call them, lead them, protect them and love them? Let us prayerfully consider who it is that we are shepherding and how we might do it better.